Usually a slow starter Froch
(27-2, 21 KOs), a decided underdog coming into the fight, came out fast
against defending champion Bute (30-1, 24 KOs). At the opening bell, he
used his jab as a range finder. Bute, a southpaw bobbed and weaved. The
first significant punch landed was a solid right by Froch on the side of
Bute’s head. The champion tried to shoot his own jab, but came up
short. Froch stepped in and landed a combination. Bute got in a left
that had no effect on the Nottingham slugger.

Round two was
more of the same. Froch used his long left hand effectively. Bute
connected with a combination that excited some of his fans. A body shot
knocked Froch back. A counter right by Froch stopped Bute in his tracks.
Two long jabs bounced off the face of the champion. Froch landed a
right and left that appeared to stun Bute.

Froch’s accurate
punching continued in round three. His jab kept finding Bute’s chin. The
champion landed a left to the jaw of Froch. A huge right stunned Bute
who backed into the ropes. Froch connected with another lead right. His
left hook also found paydirt. Bute stumbled and held on. His face looked
befuddled. Froch connected with another right as Bute looked to referee
Eddie Brown for help. Soon Bute was against the ropes again. Froch
opened up, landing a few thudding punches. Bute stopped the Froch
onslaught with his own left. Froch walked in and landed a huge right
hand. He was obviously the stronger fighter. Bute was starting to sag as
Froch continued his onslaught. A left hook buckled Bute. Froch
continued punching as Bute looked for a way to escape.

Bute tried
to get untracked in round four. The pressure Froch was applying was too
much. The determined underdog was overwhelming Bute. With about a
minute left in the round, Froch cracked the champion with a hard
combination. Bute tried to counter back, but his punches weren’t
bothering Froch. Bute again made the mistake of backing into the ropes.
The Froch right landed flush on his jaw. Froch unloaded a combination of
punches that had Bute reeling. At the bell ending the round, Bute
looked unsteady as he walked back to his corner. His left eye was
bleeding. The Nottingham faithful roared, sensing the end was imminent.

Froch
continued the super aggression in round five. Froch backed Bute into
the ropes and unleashed another four-punch combination. His confidence
was soaring. A huge right hand unhinged Bute from his senses. He began
to drop as referee Brown appeared to stop the fight. Froch’s promoter
Eddie Hearn jumped in the ring thinking the fight was over. The referee
continued to count until a Bute cornerman stopped the fight.

The time was 1:05 of round five.

Froch’s determined and relentless effort had proved many a pundit wrong.

“A
big thank you to all the fans who came here,” said Froch on the ring
apron. “I was here tonight to put a wrong to right. I was focused and
determined. I came here to do a job. “